Clothes pole and shelf combination

ABSTRACT

Shelf and hanger assemblies suspended on a wall having pairs of posts interconnected by hanger poles and spaced from the wall by bars abutting the wall below upper shelf supports. Pivotally extensible links provided with hanger notches interconnect the posts of adjacent shelf and hanger assemblies when laterally spaced on the wall.

United States atent Kaeslin 1 51 May 30,1972

[ CLOTHES POLE AND SHELF COMBINATION Oscar E. Kaeslin, 1444 s. W. 27111 Court, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33315 [72] Inventor:

221 Filed Nov. 17, 1969 21 AppLNo: 877,231

52 u.s.c1 ..10s/29,211/123 51 Int Cl ..A47b41/04,A47h1/00 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 110,952 l/1871 Brigham ..2ll/104X 2,901,303 8/1959 Anderson ..21l/86 X 2,080,763 5/1937 Peterson et a1. ..108/30 2,305,629 12/1942 Magnuson 108/29 2,523,857 9/1950 Baumgardt.... .211/123 X 2,559,102 7/1951 Zukor ..21l/90 X 2,576,067 11/1951 Chandler ..211/123 X 2,607,498 8/1952 Roberts ....21 l/123 3,088,422 5/1963 Kaeslin ..108/29 3,478,891 1l/l969 Kaeslin 108/29 X Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT Shelf and hanger assemblies suspended on a wall having pairs of posts interconnected by hanger poles and spaced from the wall by bars abutting the wall below upper shelf supports. Pivotally extensible links provided with hanger notches interconnect the posts of adjacent shelf and hanger assemblies when laterally spaced on the wall.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,868

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oscar E. Kaes/in 1' N VENT!) R.

Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,868

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oscar E. Kaes/in IN V/iNTOk.

95mm WW Em CLOTHES POLE AND SHELF COMBINATION This invention relates to the storing of garments and like articles and constitutes an improvement over the structure and garment storing arrangements disclosed in my prior copending application, U.S. Ser. No. 645,970, filed June I4, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,891.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a structural arrangement for the storing of garments which may be more easily distributed, mounted, and more flexibly utilized as compared to the garment mounting and storing arrangement disclosed in my prior copending application aforementioned.

In accordance with the present invention, at least two clothes hanging and storing assemblies are suspended on a vertical wall surface. Each assembly is fonned from a pair of posts interconnected at lower ends by a hanger pole portion with shelf supporting bars pivoted to the upper ends of the posts having hook end portions adapted to be received in suspension brackets secured to the vertical wall surface. Spacing bars are pivotally connected to the posts below the shelf support bars so that when they are held extended by bracing elements, they abut the wall to thereby fixedly space the posts from the wall. Horizontal shelves may be supported by the shelf support bars and spacing bars. When two or more of such assemblies are mounted on the wall and are laterally spaced from each other, the adjacent posts may be interconnected by pivotally extensible links provided with hanger receiving notches along the upper edges. These interconnecting, pivot links therefore provide facilities for hanging relatively long garments in the space between adjacent assemblies unobstructed by the hanger pole portions associated with each of the assemblies.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the mounting of three laterally spaced shelf and hanger assemblies in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of one of the shelf and hanger assemblies in a folded condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the portion of the shelf and hanger assembly illustrated in FIG. 2, in an unfolded condition ready for mounting.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view illustrating the details of the assembly suspension on a vertical wall surface.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the disassembled parts illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one of the pivotally extensible assembly interconnecting devices.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and initially to FIG. 1, a clothes storing arrangement is shown which includes three laterally spaced shelf and hanger assemblies 12, 14 and 16 mounted on a vertical wall surface generally referred to by reference numeral 10. The assemblies are similar to each other in the manner which they are mounted on the wall surface and the manner in which they support a top horizontal shelf. For example, the shelf and hanger assembly 12 includes a pair of posts 18 which are integrally interconnected at their lower ends by a hanger pole portion 20. Connected to the upper ends of each of the posts 18, are shelf supporting bars 22, each of which is suspended at one end remote from its post on the wall surface by means of a wall suspension bracket 24. Also, connected to each of the posts is a spacer bar 26 that extends rearwardly from the post below the shelf support bar into abutment with the vertical wall surface in order to fixedly space the post from the wall generally parallel thereto. A horizontal shelf board 28 is supported on the shelf support bars 22 for storage of various articles. Garments, on the other hand, may be hung by means of hangers from the pole support portion interconnecting the lower ends of the posts.

Referringnow to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that each of the posts 18 is tubular in cross-section and may be made of a suitable lightweight material such as aluminum. The shelf support bar 22 may be made of the same material and has a right angle cross-section so that when it is unfolded relative to the post 18 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3, it will present a horizontal shelf supporting surface 30 and a vertical leg portion 32 through which a pivot bolt assembly 34 extends for securing one end portion 36 of the shelf support bar to the upper end 38 of the post. The spacer bar 26 also has a right angle cross-section and is substantially the same length as the shelf support bar. The spacer bar 26 also includes a horizontal shelf supporting surface 40 and a vertical leg portion 42 connected adjacent one end by means of a pivot bolt assembly 44 to the post vertically spaced below the shelf support bar 22. When the bars 22 and 26 are unfolded to the positions shown in FIG. 3, substantially at right angles to the post 18, they are held in this position by braces including a link element 46 connected by fastener bolt assemblies at its opposite ends to the post 18 and the leg portion 42 of the spacer bar 26 adjacent that end 48 thereof adapted to abut the vertical wall surface. Foldable brace elements in the form of links 50 and 52 are interconnected by a fastener bolt assembly 54. The lower link 50 is connected at its lower end to the post by a fastener bolt assembly 56 just above the spacer bar. The other brace link 52 is connected at its upper end by a fastener bolt assembly 58 to the leg portion 32 of the shelf support bar adjacent a hook end portion 60. The hook end portion 60 extends downwardly at right angles to the horizontal supporting surface 30 and is spaced from the end of the leg portion 32 so as to slidably receive the engaging portion 62 of the suspension bracket 24 as more clearly seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The suspension bracket 24 is mounted at a suitable location on the vertical wall surface by means of fastener assemblies 64. It will therefore be apparent, that the unfolded shelf supports 22 when engaged with the suspension brackets will suspend the entire assembly from the wall surface while the spacer bars 26 will fixedly space the posts 18 from the wall surface because the ends 48 abut the wall and with the brace elements 46, 50 and 52 form a rigid assembly under load.

As shown in FIG. 1, the spacer bars 26 associated with the assembly 12 support a lower shelf 64. The assembly 12 will therefore be suitable for storing articles on two shelves as well as hanging long length garments from the hanger support pole 20. Medium size garments, on the other hand, may be hung by hangers from the hanger support pole 20 which interconnects the lower ends of the vertically longer posts 18' associated with the assembly 16. The assembly 16 is therefore the same as the assembly l2'except for the length of the posts. Further, in view of the increased lengths of the posts 18', an additional pair of spacer bars 66 are pivotally connected to the posts 18' adjacent the lower ends thereof in order to support a third lower shelf 68. Additional brace links 70 are therefore pivotally interconnected between the lowermost brace bars 66 and the posts 18'. Hence, the assembly 16 will provide additional shelf space for storing articles.

In order to provide a greater amount of space for hanging garments at a sacrifice of shelf space, the vertical posts 18'' associated with the assembly 14 are dimensionally longer than the posts associated with the other assemblies 12 and 16. Further, the second shelf 64 associated with the assembly 12 is eliminated in favor of an additional hanger support pole 72 secured at its opposite longitudinal ends to the poles 18" closely spaced below the top shelf. Thus, garments may be hung by hangers from the uppermost hanger support pole 72 and from the lowermost hanger support pole portion 20". The assembly 14 is similar in construction to the assembly 12 except for the length of the posts and the elimination of the second shelf.

Any one or more of the shelf and hanger assemblies may be mounted on a common vertical wall surface in any desired position. Where these assemblies are laterally spaced from each other as illustrated in FIG. 1, there will be a space between adjacent assemblies suitable for hanging of extra long garments since there will be no interference with hanger pole portions interconnecting the posts. Thus, a hanger suspension device generally referred to by reference numeral 74 is interconnected between the adjacent posts of laterally spaced assemblies. As more clearly seen in FIG. 6, the hanger suspension device 74 may be pivotally extensible in order to accommodate any lateral spacing between assemblies and toward this end is made of a pair of link elements 76 which are pivotally interconnected by a pivot fastener 78. The opposite remote ends of the links 76 are pivotally connected to the adjacent posts close to the upper ends thereof. Further, the upper edges 80 of the links are provided with hanger receiving notches 82 within which the hook portions of the garment hangers may be received.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A foldable shelf assembly for mounting on a vertical wall, said assembly comprising a pair of horizontally spaced vertical posts, at least one rigid hanger pole interconnecting said spaced vertical posts, a pair of shelf supports each of which is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the top of one of said vertical posts, fastening means including a downwardly extending flange at the opposite end of each of said shelf supports for removably fastening said assembly to a vertical wall bracket adapted to accept the flange, a rigid shelf connected to said pair of shelf supports, a pair of spacer bars each pivotally mounted at one end thereof to one of said pair of vertical posts at a point below the shelf support mounting point, a pair of rigid support links each pivotally mounted at one end thereof to one of said pair of spacer bars at a point remote from said one end of each of said spacer bars, and a pair of foldable tension links each pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof to one of said vertical posts and to one of said shelf supports at a point remote from said one end, said shelf assembly being movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, each of said shelf supports and spacer bars being nearly parallel to the vertical post to which it is pivotally mounted when said assembly is in said folded position and being substantially perpendicular to the post when said assembly is in the unfolded position such that said shelf is substantially horizontal, said shelf assembly in said unfolded position being adapted to be mounted on the vertical wall by said mounting means such that said pair of vertical posts are spaced from the vertical wall and said other ends of said spacer bars are in pressing engagement with the vertical wall,

said foldable tension links each comprising a pair of elongated link elements which are pivotally connected to each other such that they are longitudinally aligned and in tension when said shelf assembly is in said unfolded position and they are at acute angles to each other when said shelf assembly is in said folded position, each of said rigid support links being removably fastened at its other end to the corresponding vertical post at a point below the junction of the post and said shelf support when said shelf assembly is in the unfolded position such that said support links extend between and at an angle to said vertical posts and said spacer bars. 

1. A foldable shelf assembly for mounting on a vertical wall, said assembly comprising a pair of horizontally spaced vertical posts, at least one rigid hanger pole interconnecting said spaced vertical posts, a pair of shelf supports each of which is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the top of one of said vertical posts, fastening means including a downwardly extending flange at the opposite end of each of said shelf supports for removably fastening said assembly to a vertical wall bracket adapted to accept the flange, a rigid shelf connected to said pair of shelf supports, a pair of spacer bars each pivotally mounted at one end thereof to one of said pair of vertical posts at a point below the shelf support mounting point, a pair of rigid support links each pivotally mounted at one end thereof to one of said pair of spacer bars at a point remote from said one end of each of said spacer bars, and a pair of foldable tension links each pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof to one of said verticaL posts and to one of said shelf supports at a point remote from said one end, said shelf assembly being movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, each of said shelf supports and spacer bars being nearly parallel to the vertical post to which it is pivotally mounted when said assembly is in said folded position and being substantially perpendicular to the post when said assembly is in the unfolded position such that said shelf is substantially horizontal, said shelf assembly in said unfolded position being adapted to be mounted on the vertical wall by said mounting means such that said pair of vertical posts are spaced from the vertical wall and said other ends of said spacer bars are in pressing engagement with the vertical wall, said foldable tension links each comprising a pair of elongated link elements which are pivotally connected to each other such that they are longitudinally aligned and in tension when said shelf assembly is in said unfolded position and they are at acute angles to each other when said shelf assembly is in said folded position, each of said rigid support links being removably fastened at its other end to the corresponding vertical post at a point below the junction of the post and said shelf support when said shelf assembly is in the unfolded position such that said support links extend between and at an angle to said vertical posts and said spacer bars. 